Trouble with SH rising aerials :(

[Glish]

Hey Sheik boards. I've been playing Sheik for about two years now (Project M) and recently started entering Melee tournaments.

I have been practicing Melee using this Sheik 1P Practice guide. Here are the two biggest difficulties I am having:

• SH Aerials. I'm not sure if the guide is exaggerating but I've been getting frustrated because it's very hard to do SH rising bair and nair. I find myself having trouble with the inputs, as getting my finger from the jump to C-stick is hard.
• Reverse needle cancel SH. I think the PM timing is easier, so I've been finding myself press L to cancel, only to watch Sheik still release one needle, instead of canceling. It doesn't happen all the time, but enough that it's frustrating and I know I need to get better. Can someone link me to more information on RNC? Like, frame stuff. I think I'd learn easier with information like that.

Thanks for reading this. I really want to start working on Sheik much more. I've found that I can place top 8 at locals consistently, even without practicing all of this. However, I'd like to take my game up a notch. Thanks!

 

[Stride]

For short hop aerials, I find myself adjusting my grip when I'm doing aerials to the right (using the inner side of my index finger on the X button and my thumb on the C-stick), and executing them with a normal grip otherwise. You could try changing your controller grip temporarily, or just practice until you get faster; it's a matter of preference and comfort.

You could try using the Z button for nairs (though be aware this doesn't work for tether characters).

Needle frame data: http://smashboards.com/threads/needle-data.400918/

If you're throwing needles when you try to cancel, then your problem is either pressing shield too early (frame <7), or releasing the B button too early (you need to release it after frame 7 and after you have held down shield for at least 1 frame). You might as well not release the B button until you've visually confirmed that you successfully cancelled it.

 

[Scroll]

Quick tip for RNC: Try holding the needle input longer. And hold it through the cancel input.

For rising aerials I highly recommend the claw grip. I sometimes find myself doing a JC Upsmash because I am a bit too quick on the buttons when I wanna do a rising Upair. That's just an example of how quick you can be. Same goes for any of the aerials.

 

[Glish]

For short hop aerials, I find myself adjusting my grip when I'm doing aerials to the right (using the inner side of my index finger on the X button and my thumb on the C-stick), and executing them with a normal grip otherwise. You could try changing your controller grip temporarily, or just practice until you get faster; it's a matter of preference and comfort.

You could try using the Z button for nairs (though be aware this doesn't work for tether characters).

Needle frame data: http://smashboards.com/threads/needle-data.400918/

If you're throwing needles when you try to cancel, then your problem is either pressing shield too early (frame <7), or releasing the B button too early (you need to release it after frame 7 and after you have held down shield for at least 1 frame). You might as well not release the B button until you've visually confirmed that you successfully cancelled it.

Thanks for the information. I'm definitely pressing L/R too early, as I do wait to let go of B until I visually see the animation change.

I'll try the inner side of my index finger on X in addition to different controller positions, and see what works.

Thanks!

 

[Glish]

Quick tip for RNC: Try holding the needle input longer. And hold it through the cancel input.

For rising aerials I highly recommend the claw grip. I sometimes find myself doing a JC Upsmash because I am a bit too quick on the buttons when I wanna do a rising Upair. That's just an example of how quick you can be. Same goes for any of the aerials.

I'll work on the claw grip. It may be hard to switch after playing Smash for 2 years with a normal grip, but I'll take this summer to try and adjust.

 

[Scroll]

I'll work on the claw grip. It may be hard to switch after playing Smash for 2 years with a normal grip, but I'll take this summer to try and adjust.

If it aint broken don't fix it. You don't need claw in order to do rising aerials. Keep that in mind.
Many people do just fine w/o. The reward if you do switch is that you can have complete analog jump + drift control while doing the rising aerials and arguably have an easier time with the inputs.